Integral snap-action clips



1966 v. J. ESPOSITO, JR 3,

INTEGRAL SNAP- ACTION CLIPS Filed March 11, 1965 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent Ofiice 3,292,223 Patented Dec. 20, 1966 3,292,223 INTEGRAL SNAP-ACTION CLIPS Vincent J. Esposito, Jr., 31 Jackson Ave.,

. Wayne, NJ. 07470 Filed Mar. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 438,997 12 Claims. (Cl. 24-137) This invention relates to snap-action gripping means or clips and more particularly is directed to such devices molded of elastomeric plastic resinous material having integral means for selectively opening and closing a pair of pressure exerting jaws.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a single, unitary integral structure molded of elastomeric material incorporating a snap-action gripping means particularly adaptable for embodiment as a clothes pin or like clip, whichshall utilize a plurality of integral hinges coacting with resilient members for selective and resilient self retention of its jaws in alternative open and closed positions, which jaws shall be pressure responsive for snap-action between said positions and operable with a minimum of friction on the material being gripped thereby eliminating possible damage to delicate fabrics, which shall be economical to manufacture in quantity production as a unitary structure by modern molding methods in a wide variety of attractive colors, sizes and configurations, which shall be durable, rugged, foolproof in operation and practical and efiicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists of features of constructions, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims following.

In the accompanying drawings in which various embodiments of the invention are shown:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clothes pin shown in operative position clamping an article of laundry on a clothes line.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the clothes pin illustrated in FIG. 1 showing details of the jaws in closed position.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the clothes pin illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 removed from the clothes line with the jaws in open position, a midpoint between open and closed position being indicated in broken lines.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of clothes pin shown in open position.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view taken similar to FIG. 2 of the modified form of clothes pin in FIG. 4 shown in closed position mounted on a clothes line and clamping an article of laundry.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another modified form of clothes pin shown in open position.

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of a clothes hanger showing the clothes pin mounted on a cross bar suspending trousers or a skirt therefrom, and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 in FIG. 7 showing the clothes pin in closed position.

Referring in detail to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, 10 generally denotes a clip constructed to embody the invention in the form of a clothes pin which may be molded as an integral unit, as for example, by injection molding methods, of a suitable elastomeric plastic resin, such as, linear polyethylene, polypropylene, or the like material having tough foldable tear resistant properties satisfying the requirements for an integral hinge or pivot.

As seen in FIG. 3, clothes pin 10 may be provided as a colored ring structure comprising a relatively rigid support section 11 having opposite resilient arm sections 12 and 13 which are joined to a pair of jaw sections 14 and 15 by relatively thin foldable webs forming hinges 16 and 17, respectively. Jaw sections 14 and 15 are interconnected at their adjacent ends by a third foldable web forming hinge 18 to complete the closed ring structure.

Rigid support section 11, which may be fashioned in any suitable manner, as for example, by thickening the material, providing therein a web or ribs, or, as here shown, by a cross brace 11a, disposes resilient arm sections 12 and 13 in a normal retracted position whereby hinges 16 and 17 are retained at a predetermined minimum distance from eachother. Resilient arm sections 12 and 13 are fashioned to flex outwardly, away from each other, when pressure is applied thereto by the jaw sections 14 and 15 being moved between open and closed positions as indicated in broken lines in FIG. 3.

Jaw sections 14 and 15 are sized and shaped to have a combined average effective length greater than the distance between the hinges 16 and 17 when resilient arm sections 12 and 13 are in the normal retracted position, that is, to position hinge 18 a spaced distance on either side of the line x-x drawn between hinges 16 and 17 as will be clear from FIGS. 2 and 3. Jaw sections 14 and 15 are also shaped to provide a boxed-in clamping area when in the closed position shown in FIG. 2, the portions forming the clamping area being openly exposed when jaw sections 14 and 15 are in open position.

A feature of the invention is the structural arrangement of the jaw sections whereby upward relative pressure by the article to be clipped or grasped when applied against portions of the jaw sections serves to spring the latter into closed position, and conversely, downward relative pressure of the article applied against other portions of the closed jaw sections serves to spring the latter into open position wherein they remain resiliently retained ready for reuse.

To achieve the ends hereinbefore described, jaw section 14 is seen to comprise a reentrant portion having a clamp member 14a and a transverse member 140, the latter being interconnected by hinge 18 to an opposing clamp member 15a of jaw section 15. As seen in FIG. 2, when jaw sections 14 and 15 are in closed position, clamp member 14a, transverse member 14c and clamp member 15a are disposed to provide said boxed-in clamping area. Jaw sections 14 and 15, each also comprises a support member 14b and 15b connected to hinges 16 and 17, respectively. Each of the support members 14b and 15b is swingable on its respective hinge 16 and 17 from an open position in alignment with respective resilient arm sections 12 and 13 shown in FIG. 3 to the closed position in substantial alignment with each other but at a small inwardly tapering angle having its apex above the line xx as shown in FIG. 2. Jaw section 14 also carries a hook member 14d, the function of which will be herein after more fully described, seen as an outward extension of a clamp member 14a and having its free end extending toward and partialy underlying support member 1517 when the jaw sections are in closed position. A protuberance 15c may be provided on jaw section 15 as an extension from support member 15b beyond clamp member 15a to reduce the opening to the boxed-in clamping area when jaw sections 14 and 15 are in closed position thereby serving as a gripping means in the manner hereinafter described.

The practical utility and operation of the invention will now be apparent. Clothes pin 10, having been molded as an integral structure of anelastomeric plastic, is ready for use when in its open position shown in FIG. 3. An edge or corner of an article A is first folded over the clothes line L in the well understood manner. Clothes pin 10 may then be grasped in one hand at rigid support section 11 and positioned so that the portion of the folded article A on clothes line L to be secured lies in the reentrant portion of jaw section 14 between clamp member 14a and transverse member 140. Then, by simplypr'essing clothes pin 10 downwardly against clothes line L, jaw sections 14 and 15 are snapped into closed position wherein clamp members 14a, 15a and transverse member 14c assume the boxed-in configuration clamping article A and clothes line L therein against the resiliency of arm sections 12 and 13, as seen in FIG. 2. For removal, clothes pin 10 is merely ulled up from clothes line L whereby jaw sections 14 and 15 are returned to and remain in open position shown in FIG. 3.

The closing of jaw sections 14 and 15 is accomplished by their pivoting with respect to arm sections 12 and 13 at hinges 16 and 17, respectively, and pivoting with respect to each other at hinge 18. In responding to the opposing inward, that is, the upward pressure exerted against said reentrant portion of jaw section 14 by clothes line L, jaw sections 14 and 15 pass through a maximum effective length configuration when hinge 18 crosses line xx whereby resilient arm sections 12 and 13 are spread apart and tension loaded to spring jaw sections 14 and 15 into closed position. Where the sizes and proportions of jaw section clamp members 14b, 15b, transverse member 14:: and the overall thickness of folded article A on clothes line L being gripped by clothes pin 10 so require, proturberance 150 is sized to coact with jaw section 14 to provide additional gripping of folded article A beneath clothes line L. As seen in FIG. 2, hook member 14d may likewise coact with support member 15b as an auxiliary gripping means for folded article A.

In responding to the opposing outward, that is, the downward, pressure exerted by clothesline L when clothes pin 10 is being removed, jaw sections 14 and 15 again pass througha maximum effective length configuration spreading resilient arm sections 12 and 13. It will also be apparent that hook member 14d is positioned to engage clothes line L as it emerges from said boxed-in clamping area thereby insuring positive movement of jaw sections 14 and 15 to the open position shown in FIG. 3

to prepare clothes pin 10 for reuse without further manipulation and eliminating the possibility of clothes line L bearing its folded article A slipping out of said boxed-in clamping area without springing jaw sections 14 and 15 to open position.

FIGS. 4 and show a modified form of the invention as clothes pin 20 provided as a closed ring structure comprising rigid support member 21, cross brace 21a, resilient arm sections 22 land 23, hinges 26, 27 and 28 and jaw sections 24 and 25 formed with clamp members 24a, 25a, support members 24b, 25b and transverse member 240, all substantially similar to the corresponding parts of clothes pin 10.

Jaw sections 24 and 25 are shown modified to include a pair of gripping members 24d and 25d, projecting substantially at right angles from support members 24b and 25b respectively, to engage each other at the free ends thereof when jaw sections 24 and 25 are in closed position as shown in FIG. 5. Jaw section 25 may also include protuberance 250 which may be longer than corresponding protuberance 150 in clothes pin 10. To improve the holding characteristics of gripping members 24d and 25d suitable interengaging means may be provided on the opposing surfaces thereof, such as rib 252 and complimentary groove 24a.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate an embodiment of the in vention as a clip 30 for supporting trousers T or skirts on the rung or crossbar 41 of a coathanger 40. Clip 30 is seen to comprise a rigid support member 31,'cross brace 31a, resilient arm sections 32 and 33, hinges 36, 37 and 38 and jaw sections 34 and 35, all substantially similar to the corresponding parts of clothes pins and 20. Clip 30 resembles clothes pin 20 in being provided with gripping members 34d and 35d which may be elongated at right angles to the plane of clip 30 to present a longer gripping surface. A feature of clip 30 is its permanent attachment 24d, 25d and 34d, 35d permits the respective jaw sections 24, 25 and 34, 35 to be operated between the closed position and a partially open position, that is, a position just short of the maximum effective length of the jaw sections. As will be clear from FIG. 5, commencing with jaw sections 24, 25 in closed position, the user pulls upwardly on rigid support member 21 with respect to clothes. line L which depresses protuberance 25c and flexes jaw sections 24, 25 in a downward direction against the resiliency of arm sections 22, 23 thereby spreading gripping members 24d, 25d sufliciently for inserting an edge border of article Upon release of the upward pull, jaw i A therebetween. sections 24, 25 and gripping members 24d, 25d return tov fully closed position, being retained therein by resilient arm sections 22, 23. A slight upward pull on rigid support member 21 against clothes line L releases the compression force between gripping members 24d, 25d for 1 disengagement of article A. Likewise, the user, pulling upwardly on rigid support member 31 of clip 30 with respect to crossbar 41, causes the latter to pull down-' wardly on eyelet 34e to flex jaw sections 34, 35 and part gripping members 34d, 35d for insertion therebetween or.

removal therefrom of an edge border of trousers T.

It is to be understood that the pressure responsive snaps action of a gripping means provided by an integral ring structure of elastomeric plastic material embodying the invention as illustrated in clothes pins or clips 10, 20 and t 30 will find other household applications including use as pressure actuated tool holders and as drapery and curtain holders replacing fabric piercing drapery hooks and the like.

The improved integral snap-action clips herein disclosed are seen to achieve the several objects of the invention and to be well adapted to meet conditions of,

practical use. As various possible embodiments might be made in the above invention, and as various changes" might be made in the disclosed constructions, it is to be understood that all matters herein set. forth or shown in the accompanying drawing are to be interpreted as. illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A clip of the character described comprising a closed integral ring structure sectionalized into a relatively rigid support section carrying opposite resilient arm sections each terminating in a foldable thin web portion, a pair of jaw sections, one extending from each web portion and connected to each other by a third foldable thin web portion, said jaw sections being selectively retained'in open and closed positions by said resilient arm sections and being movable between said positions.

2. The clip defined in claim 1 in which said jaw sections are proportioned to locate said third foldable thin web when in said open and closed positions at spaced points on opposite sides of a straight hue between said first mentioned thin web portions.

3. The clip defined in claim Zin which said jaw sections are shaped to define a boxed-in clamping area located radially inwardly of said straight line when the jaw sections are in said closed position and an exposed area located radially outwardly of said straight line when the jaw sections are in said open position.

4. A clip of the character described comprising a closed integral ring structure sectionalized into a relatively rigid support section carrying opposite resilient arm sections each terminating in an integral hinge formed as a foldable thin web portion, a pair of jaw sections, one extending from each hinge and connected to each other by a third hinge formed as a foldable thin web portion, said jaw sections being constructed and arranged for pivoting at said hinges between open and closed positions in which the jaw sections are disposed to assume a minimum efiective length between said first mentioned hinges, said resilient arm sections coacting with each other and said jaw sections to selectively retain the latter in said open and closed positions and to be spread apart in tension loading for snap-action of the jaw sections into the alternate position by the latter being pivoted through a disposition of increased elfective length between said first mentioned hinges.

5. The clip defined in claim 4 in which said jaw sections are shaped to define an exposed area in said open position to receive relative inward pressure thereon by an object for eifecting said snap-action to said closed position.

6. The clip defined in claim 5 in which said jaw sections are shaped to define a boxed-in clamping area sub stantially surrounding and gripping said object in said closed position.

7. The clip defined in claim 4 in which said jaw sections each include a gripping member which extends outwardly from said ring structure, said gripping members being in operative engagement for gripping an articletherebetween when the jaw sections are in closed position.

8. The clip defined in claim 7 in which one of said jaw sections includes an integral eyelet for receiving a mounting means for the clip, said eyelet being located to receive relative inward pressure for effecting said snap-action to said closed position and relative outward pressure for effecting said snap-action to said open position.

9. A clip of the character described comprising a closed integral ring structure sectionalized into a relatively rigid support section carrying opposite resilient arm sections each terminating in an integral hinge formed as a foldable thin web portion, a pair of jaw sections, one extending from each hinge and connected to each other by a third hinge formed as a foldable thin web portion, said jaw sections being selectively retained in open and closed positions by said resilient arm sections and being movable by snap-action between said positions, said jaw sections being shaped to define an exposed area in said open position to receive relative inward pressure thereon by an object for effecting said snap-action to said closed position and to define a boxed-in clamping area substantially surrounding and gripping said object in said closed position,- one of said jaw sections having a hook member extending toward the other of said jaw sections when the jaw sections are in closed position, said hook member being located for engagement by said object as relative outward pressure is exerted thereby in moving said closed jaw sections toward open position to insure the snap-action to said open position.

10. A clip of the character described comprising a closed integral ring structure sectionalized into a relatively rigid support section carrying opposite resilient arm sections each terminating in an integral hinge formed as a foldable thin web portion, a pair of jaw sections, one extending from each hinge and connected to each other by a third hinge formed as a foldable thin web portion, said jaw sections being constructed and arranged for pivoting at said hinges between first and second extreme positions in which the jaw sections are disposed to assume a minimum eifective length between said first mentioned hinges, said resilient arm sections coacting with each other and said jaw sections to selectively retain the latter in said first and second extreme positions and to be spread apart in tension loading for snap-action of the jaw sections into the alternate position by the latter being pivoted through a disposition of increased effective length between said first mentioned hinges, and a gripping member extending from each of the jaw sections, said gripping members being in operative closed engagement with each other for gripping an article therebetween when the jaw sections are in one of said extreme positions and separating when the jaw sections are moved to the other of said extreme positions.

11. The clip defined in claim 10 in which one of said jaw sections includes an integral eyelet for receiving a mounting means for the clip, said eyelet being located to receive relative inward pressure for efiecting said snapaction to one of said extreme positions and relative outward pressure for eifecting said snap-action to the other of said extreme positions.

12. A clip integrally molded of an elastomeric plastic material comprising a relatively rigid support section carrying opposite resilient arm sections each terminating in a foldable thin web portion, a pair of jaw sections, one extending from each web portion and connected to each other by a third foldable thin web portion, said jaw sections being selectively retained in open and closed positions by said resilient arm sections and being movable by snap-action between said positions on application of a force sufiicient to overcome the resiliency of said arms, at least one of said jaw sections being formed with means for receiving said force as relative pressure thereon by an object for effecting said snap-action.

References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 588 1880 Great Britain. 930,934 7/ 1963 Great Britain. 465,436 9/1951 Italy.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Examiner. 

1. A CLIP OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING A CLOSED INTEGRAL RING STRUCTURE SECTIONALIZED INTO A RELATIVELY RIGID SUPPORT SECTION CARRYING OPPOSITE RESILIENT ARM SECTIONS EACH TERMINATING IN A FOLDABLE THIN WEB PORTION, A PAIR OF JAW SECTIONS, ONE EXTENDING FROM EACH WEB PORTION AND CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER BY A THIRD FOLDABLE THIN WEB PORTION, SAID JAW SECTIONS BEING SELECTIVELY RETAINED IN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS BY SAID RESILIENT ARM SECTIONS AND BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN SAID POSITIONS. 